Method and apparatus for making pies



Dec. s, 1946.

L. J. HARRISS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING PIES Filed July 6, 1942 IN VE NTOR.

BY K Izq( Patented Dec. 3. 194e UNITED STATES PATENT oruga Lloyd J. Bai-riss, Kenilworth, lll. Application July 6, 1942, Serial No. 449.868

9 Claims. (Ci. 107-54) This invention relates in genral to a method and apparatus for making pastries and more particularly to novel means used in the method of makng so-called open pies which ,have no top crus One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a new and improved baking utensil for carrying out the method of making an open pie.

Another object of the invention is to provide a baking utensil for making the -bottom crust of the pie, which utensil is formed of readily separable parts to facilitate the carrying out of the various steps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide novel measuring means adapted to surround the pie for indicating the proper places for cutting the pie into a predetermined number of equal portions.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a flexible band for surrounding the pie, which band not only bears indicia for properly proportioning the cuts of pie but also acts as a retaining means to prevent the pie filling from owing beyond the edges thereof.

A still further and more specic object of the invention is to provide a novel baking utensil which has a removable rim thereon, said rim capable of being replaced by a measuring band after the bottom crust has been baked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent by reference to the following description in commotion with the following drawing in which Fig.' 1 is a perspective view of the utensil for baking the crust showing .the two parts thereof separated;

f Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the circular measuring band;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the assembled baking utensil showing the bottom crust therein;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the baking.

utensil wherein the removable rim has been replaced by the measuring band;

Fig. 5 is a developed view of the' measuring band: and v Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a single cut of .the pie.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, lthe baking utensil which I have designed for use in carrying out the method of my invention includes a bottom plate or disk 2 provided at its peripheral edge with an annular bead 4. It will be obvious that this bead or rib can assume any desiredconilsuration. However, for purposes of illustration I have chosen to show this bead as having a substantially circular cross section. It is desirable that this bead extend upwardly be yond the upper surface of the plate 2 to prevent any lateral sliding movement of .the pie restirg thereon.

' A rim in the form of a ring 6 is provided on 'its under side with an annular groove 8. This groove has a congurationsubstantially complementary to the upper half of the bead 4, in this case semi-circular, so that it may nt snugly thereon.

' Fig. 3 shows the utensil in assembled position, the ring 8 forming a rim within the connes of which the lower crust I0 is formed. While the lower crust may be formed of any suitable material customarily used in making pies, in actual practice I have made .the crust of a graham cracker dough, the dough being. placed on the plate 2 and manipulated so as to substantially i111 the space within the ring 6. After the dough has thus been located in the utensil it is placed in an oven and properly baked.

After the bottom crust has been baked and the utensil removed from the oven the ringv 6 is removed from the plate 'I'he bottom crust I0 is also then removed temporarily and a measuring band I2 is placed on the .plate 2. This band,

which is preferably formed of a flexible material such as paper or the like, has a circumference which is substantially equal to .the circumference of the plate. 2 within the bead 4 and is provided throughout -its length with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending perforated lines I4. The bottom edge of the band I2 has a number of inwardly extending .tapered tongues I8. After the band is properly located on the plate, the crust l0 is .then replaced and rests on the tongues I6. After this step, any suitable filling I8 is placed on the crust and within the confines of the band I2. It will therefore be seen that thus far in the making of the pie the measuring band serves in the manner of a side crust and acts to retain the filling and prevent its overilowing.

Any suitable filling may be used. However, it is desirable that it be of a. consistency similar to custards, thick creams, or other substances which will take a"set and which will not have a tend' ency to run after cutting.

It will be noted upon reference to Fig. 5 that each one of the perforated lines I4 along the length of the band I2 is identied by a number or numbers. In the example shown, these numbers range from 2 to 8. but it will be obvious that l after baking.

any additional numbers may be used if desired.

These identifying numbers indicate the proper' places to cut the pie in order to divide it into a predetermined number of equal portions. It is advisable in each case to have a common starting point and in Fig. 5 this is indicated by the numeral 2G. Starting from this point then, supposing it is desired to 'out the pie into eight equal portions. After the initial cut is made other cuts will be made around the pie wherever the numeral 8 occurs, thereby dividing the pie and the measuring band into eight equal portions. Likewise, if seven equal portionsare desired a cut will be made on each perforatedline indicated by the numeral 7 after the initial cut has been made along the line indicated at 20. A similar.

procedure will be followed in dividing the pie into any other number of equal parts. When it is toV be divided into less than ilve equal portions, i'or example four or three, after the initial cut is made along the line 20, every other line indicated by the numeral 8 or every other line indicated by the numeral 6 will be cut.

This method of baking the bottom crust and completing the pie tothe point where the illling is placed within the measuring'band will be performed at the bakery. The pie will then be shipped out in this condition. The cutting of the pie will not take place until just prior to serving, at which time the portion of the band remaining around the edge of the pie may be easily removed.

Some of the advantages arising out of this A apparatus and method will be obvious. For example, restaurants will have less bulky pie plates to return to the bakery and it will not be necessary to divide the pie by the use ofany additional means because the measuring band, being formed of a flexible material such as paper or the like, may be readily cut at the desired points and then thrown away.

While the upper edgey of the indicating ban I2 may obviously be smooth if desired, I have preferred to provide a scalloped edge thereon with raised portions such as at 22 which terminate in indentations 24 at each of the perforated lines so that a person cutting the pie can easily locate the exact position of the perforated line along which he desires to cut.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A baking utensil for-use in making a pastry crust comprising, a substantially fiat plate, and a thin ring member having an annular cut-out portion on its underside adapted to receive the peripheral edge of said plate, the dough for said crust resting on said plate within the conilnes of said ring, and said ring being readily removable from said plate after baking.

2. A baking utensil for use in making a pastry crust comprising, a substantially ilat plate having a raised bead around the periphery thereof, and a ring member having an annular groove around the underside thereof adapted to receive said bead, the dough for said crust resting on said plate within the confines of said ring, and said ring being readily removable from said plate l 3. Abakingutensilioruseinmaking apastry crust comprising, a substantially iiat plate having a raised bead around the periphery thereof, and a ring having anannular groove around the underside thereof of a' eoniiguration complementary to said bead. whereby said groove will snugly receive said bead when the plate and ring are assembled, the dough tor said crust resting on sind plate within said ring.l and und ring being readily removable from 'said plate; after 4. The method of making pastries 'which comprises the steps of, baking a substantially dat bottom crust, placing a flexible measuring band around said crust, and depositing a illling within` the area provided by the crust and band.'

5.'1'he method of making pastries which comprises the steps of, placing a pie crust dough onto a plate having a removable-rim thereon, baking said dough to provide a substantially iiat bottom crust, replacing said rim with a measuring band, andvdepositing a nlling within the area provided by said crust and band. I

6. The method of making pastries which comprises the steps of, placing a pie crust dough onto a plate, baking said dough to provide a substantially fiat bottom crust, removing said crust from the plate. placing on said plate a measuring band having inwardly extending tongues on the lower edge thereof, replacing said crust on said plate so as to rest on said tongues, and depositing a illling within the area provided by said crust and band.

7. The method of making a pie which comprises placing an unbaked pie dough upon a substantially dat baking utensil having a raised peripheral edge with a removable rim covering said edge whereby said pie dough when baked will be contained within said utensil by the inside of said rim, baking said pie dough, thereafter removing said rim, placing a vertically disposed iiexible band around the periphery of said baked pie dough inside the raised peripheral edge of said utensil, said exible band being of sufficient width to provide a side enclosure for the space above said baked pie dough, and depositing an edible filling in said space within the confines of said dough and said band.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which said iiexible band is provided with an inturned bottom ange which is placed intermediately between the bottom of said baked pie dough and the uppersurface oi' said utensil.

9. The method of making a pie which comprises baking a pie dough upon a substantially ilat surface while holding the edges to prevent lateral expansion during baking and to produce a substantially fiat bottom crust of a predetermined coniiguration, then positioning a vertically disposed ilexible band having flanged portions at the bottom thereof around the periphery oi' said baked pie dough with the flanged portions therebeneath, said flexible band being of sulcient width to provide a side enclosure for the space above said baked pie dough, holding said iiexible band in place and depositing an edible iilling in said space within the contines of said dough and said band.

LIDYD J. HARRISS. 

